Hindi makapaniwala si Liza sa kanyang narinig. Inimbita kasi syang kumain sa labas ni Gabriel. Syempre sumama sya at pinaunlakan ang imbitasyon ng kanyang pinsan dahil alam nyang malungkot ito lately. Even she could not understand what was going on in Susannah's head when the latter decided to leave without notice. Kung kelan nila kinailangan ang isa't isa, ngayon pa nagpasya si Susannah iwan ang kanyang pinsan. Her heart was breaking for her cousin; kung kelan ito nakahanap ng true love, ngayon pa ito nabigo sa pag ibig. But she knew that Susannah must have a good reason to leave; her friend just had too good of a heart to just leave for no reason. She wished she could have done something to prevent it from happening, but what?
She loved Susannah, she loved her cousin, and she loved them both together, but since only Gabriel was around, she would just have to comfort him. She knew he was going to look for Susannah, and of course she was more than willing to help, pero paano? Hindi nya rin naman alam kung saan maguumpisa.
"Cous?" she called out to Gabriel ng nakapasok na sya sa condo unit nito. Nakabukas kasi ang pinto at may mga workers na naglabas ng mattress ng kama. Parang na-deja vu si Liza dahil nakita na nya ang eksenang iyon dati.
"Gabe?"
"Guest room," narinig nyang sigaw ng kanyang pinsan.
She walked into the guest room at napahinto sya sa harap ng pinto. Wala na kasing kalaman laman ito at nakacover na rin ang floor with a tarp. Her cousin, meanwhile, was looking at paint samples.
"Gabe? Anong nangyayari? Nakita kong nilalabas nila ang mattress, akala ko nagpapalit ka nanaman ng mattress sa kwarto mo."
Natawa si Gabriel. Naalala nya rin kasi yung eksenang nadatnan ni Liza once upon a time. "Nope," was his short reply.
"Eh anong plano mo dito sa guest room? Bakit walang laman?" tuluyan ng pumasok si Liza sa loob ng kwarto.
"I have better plans kasi for this room. This room is going to be special for my special someone."
"Teka," Liza placed her hands on her hips. "Don't tell me may bago ka na? Don't tell me back to the old Gabriel and his philandering ways ka na naman?"
Gabriel shook his head and laughed. It was good to laugh again kahit papano.
"Liza, have a little faith in me, will you?" he rolled his eyes playfully at his cousin. "Now, help me pick out which pink would work best on the wall," he handed her the paint samples.
"Teka, pink? Bakit? Naguguluhan ako!"
"Liza, my daughter is going to live here, with me," he grinned at her.
Napamura si Liza sa narinig at sinuntok ang kanyang pinsan sa braso. "I knew it! Sinasabi ko na nga ba eh! May nabuntis ka sa isa sa mga babae mo dati, no?! Tapatin mo nga ako!"
"Oo, may nabuntis ako," Gabriel continued to grin which irritated Liza more.
She wanted to punch him again on behalf of Susannah. "At ngayon ay may anak na ako."
"Sino? Do I know this girl? And how do you even know na sa yo ang bata?"
"Relax. I love the baby's mother very much. She is the love of my life," his voice softened.
"The love of your life?!" naiiritang sigaw ni Liza. "You better be talking about Innah because if not..." she trailed off when she saw Gabriel snickering. "Si Innah?" nanlaki ang mga mata ni Liza.
"Yes, si Innah," inakbayan ni Gabriel ang kanyang pinsan. "Kaya tulungan mo akong mag ayos ng nursery ha?"
"Teka, naguguluhan ako. Buntis ba si Innah ngayon? Pero imposible. Hindi pa sya pwedeng makipag...you know," nahihiyang sabi ni Liza. Pinsan nya pa rin si Gabriel at hindi sya kumportableng pag usapan ang bagay na yun.
